literal

1 of 2

adjective

lit·er·al ˈli-t(ə-)rəl How to pronounce literal (audio)

: according with the letter of the scriptures

adheres to a literal reading of the passage

: adhering to fact or to the ordinary construction or primary meaning of a term or expression : actual

liberty in the literal sense is impossible

B. N. Cardozo

: free from exaggeration or embellishment

the literal truth

: characterized by a concern mainly with facts

a very literal man

: of, relating to, or expressed in letters

The distress signal SOS has no literal meaning.

: reproduced word for word : exact, verbatim

a literal translation

literality

ˌli-tə-ˈra-lə-tē How to pronounce literal (audio)

noun

literalness

ˈli-t(ə-)rəl-nəs How to pronounce literal (audio)

noun

Synonyms

Adjective

documentary
factual
hard
historical
matter-of-fact
nonfictional
objective
true

See all Synonyms & Antonyms

Example Sentences

Adjective I was using the word in its literal sense. The literal meaning of “know your ropes” is “to know a lot about ropes,” while figuratively it means “to know a lot about how to do something.” a literal translation of a book The story he told was basically true, even if it wasn't the literal truth.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

What: Fashion with a capital F, as everyone took turns posing next to Saks mannequins and a literal tower of champagne cascading from the restaurant entrance.

Faran Krentcil, ELLE, 17 Sep. 2022 In the case of the literal metro — as in the train — safety and, more importantly, perceptions of safety, have everything to do with stations that feel isolated from the city in purpose and design.

Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2022 But in historical fiction, the aim is to capture a story, so fidelity to literal facts and timelines is not always the goal.

Emma Sarappo, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2022 After the intense, electric urban energy of Bangkok, Krabi — a southern province on Thailand’s Andaman Sea — was a literal breath of fresh air.

Lily Radziemski, Washington Post, 16 Sep. 2022 Clearly, this light pollution had literal life-or-death stakes.

Joshua Sokol, Scientific American, 16 Sep. 2022 The toppings: a literal heap of Italian sausage, pepperoni, and bacon; mozzarella, Romano, and Parmesan cheeses; and red sauce.

Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 16 Sep. 2022 Hecklers disrupted proceedings with shouts and taunts, councilors traded verbal barbs, and a literal brawl erupted outside the council chamber after the public was ejected from the meeting because of the interruptions.

Danny Mcdonald, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Sep. 2022 The schedule includes everything from Christmas markets and historic home tours to a literal lobster trap Christmas tree lighting.

Hannah Jeon, Good Housekeeping, 14 Sep. 2022

Noun

David was contending with two friendship deaths—one literal, the other metaphorical.

Jennifer Senior, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2022 Tony’s asphyxiation of Christopher makes the metaphorical literal.

Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2021 See More

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

Middle English, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin litteralis, from Latin, of a letter, from littera letter

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1622, in the meaning defined above

单词	literality
释义	literal 1 of 2 adjective lit·er·al ˈli-t(ə-)rəl 1 a : according with the letter of the scriptures adheres to a literal reading of the passage b : adhering to fact or to the ordinary construction or primary meaning of a term or expression : actual liberty in the literal sense is impossible B. N. Cardozo c : free from exaggeration or embellishment the literal truth d : characterized by a concern mainly with facts a very literal man 2 : of, relating to, or expressed in letters The distress signal SOS has no literal meaning. 3 : reproduced word for word : exact, verbatim a literal translation literality ˌli-tə-ˈra-lə-tē noun literalness ˈli-t(ə-)rəl-nəs noun literal 2 of 2 noun : a small error usually of a single letter (as in writing) Synonyms Adjective documentary factual hard historical matter-of-fact nonfictional objective true See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Adjective I was using the word in its literal sense. The literal meaning of “know your ropes” is “to know a lot about ropes,” while figuratively it means “to know a lot about how to do something.” a literal translation of a book The story he told was basically true, even if it wasn't the literal truth. Recent Examples on the Web Adjective What: Fashion with a capital F, as everyone took turns posing next to Saks mannequins and a literal tower of champagne cascading from the restaurant entrance. Faran Krentcil, ELLE, 17 Sep. 2022 In the case of the literal metro — as in the train — safety and, more importantly, perceptions of safety, have everything to do with stations that feel isolated from the city in purpose and design. Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2022 But in historical fiction, the aim is to capture a story, so fidelity to literal facts and timelines is not always the goal. Emma Sarappo, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2022 After the intense, electric urban energy of Bangkok, Krabi — a southern province on Thailand’s Andaman Sea — was a literal breath of fresh air. Lily Radziemski, Washington Post, 16 Sep. 2022 Clearly, this light pollution had literal life-or-death stakes. Joshua Sokol, Scientific American, 16 Sep. 2022 The toppings: a literal heap of Italian sausage, pepperoni, and bacon; mozzarella, Romano, and Parmesan cheeses; and red sauce. Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 16 Sep. 2022 Hecklers disrupted proceedings with shouts and taunts, councilors traded verbal barbs, and a literal brawl erupted outside the council chamber after the public was ejected from the meeting because of the interruptions. Danny Mcdonald, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Sep. 2022 The schedule includes everything from Christmas markets and historic home tours to a literal lobster trap Christmas tree lighting. Hannah Jeon, Good Housekeeping, 14 Sep. 2022 Noun David was contending with two friendship deaths—one literal, the other metaphorical. Jennifer Senior, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2022 Tony’s asphyxiation of Christopher makes the metaphorical literal. Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2021 See More Word History Etymology Adjective and Noun Middle English, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin litteralis, from Latin, of a letter, from littera letter First Known Use Adjective 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2 Noun 1622, in the meaning defined above Phrases Containing literal literal-minded literal-minded Kids Definition literal adjective lit·er·al ˈli-tə-rəl 1 : following the ordinary or usual meaning of the words I'm using the word in its literal, not figurative, sense. 2 : true to fact She gave a literal account of what she saw. literality noun as in literalness Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance literalness Antonyms & Near Antonyms imagination fantasy originality creativity invention contrivance inventiveness phantasy fancy ideation inspiration imaginativeness fertility fecundity brainstorming brainstorm See More
随便看	conducted conducti conductibilities conductibility conductible conductimeter conductimetric conducting conducting transportation conductio conduction conduction anesthesia conduction band conduction current conductiones conductions conductitious conductive conductively conductivities conductivity conductment conductometer conductometric conductometry

literal

adjective

noun

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing literal

Kids Definition

adjective

noun